Diaries of an Intern: Won't You Be My Neighbor?

As I continue my espiona-INTERNSHIP, I have noticed that there are a few generational gaps between Stacy, Cassidy, and I. For example, they grew up watching things on VHS and but I grew up... also watching things on VHS...

Bad example.

BUT!

For all of our differences, there is a lot we have in common! Like Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, the classic feel good public access television show that has been on air for like, a million years. So, in an effort to pry deeper into the minds of the crows, I went out and watched Won't You Be My Neighbor? at my local cinema, and there is a lot of good stuff I can use 😈

Fred Rogers has a knack for communicating with children, speaking to them about all sorts of mature themes like death and divorce and whatnot. While Stace and Cass are NOT children I think I can employ some of his methods to get those good film deets 👌👌👌One thing Fred did when he talked to children was accepting their poor understanding of personal space. So instead of recoiling when a child's underdeveloped grasp of manners lead them to totally bust his personal space bubble, he would lean in and send that intense, childish energy right back. I now know that when Stace, Cass, and I have our meetings at the Co-op I should reallly lean into it if I am to make them comfortable enough to spill their tea.

Yet another consistent element of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood that never seemed to fail was the use of puppetry. When one has a loveable sock-animal on their hand doing the talking for them, it not only relieves that intense social anxiety BUT it is indubitably better for the other person as they don't have to deal with your rude ass, just the puppet's. With this regard I have decided to create a puppet with which I can better communicate to the crows.

The prevailing theme of Won't You Be My Neighbor? also happens to be the most effective in gaining the crows' trust- love. Yes, it sounds cliché, but Mr. Rogers lived by the mantra 143, which meant "I love you." This simple numerical device helped him earn the love and admiration of thousands of children and parents (with which he didn't create a loveable child army so like, opportunity wasted 😑). He did this all through the powerful use of his words, spreading a rhetoric of love through basic cable. And while I will NOT be caught dead in a sweater vest cardigan combo, I WILL shower the crows with gifts, love, and "innocent" questions.

I gleaned all of this useful information in between sobs through the duration of Won't You Be My Neighbor? which in its concluding minutes featured a speech from the man himself. Rogers spoke to me beyond the grave, saying: "... from the time you were very little, you've had people who have smiled you into smiling, people who have talked you into talking, sung you into singing, and loved you into loving."

Instant tears 😭

If you have feelings and consider yourself remotely human, you should for sure see this doc, whether you grew up with Mr. Rogers or not. In an extremely divisive time it is so important to return to those fundamental elements which make us human. And whether you're using this information to spy on the people you're interning for, or just to be a better person, you will enjoy the ride, I guarantee it.